534 



ch. 346, § 10, as added July 30, 1947, ch. 348, 61 Stat. 

 517, and amended July 16, 1952. ch. 911, § 2, 66 Stat. 

 736.) 



Amendments 

 1952 — Act July 16. 1952, substituted "fish" for "game 

 flah" wherever appearing. 



Sec 

 781. 



35. Regulation of Sponge Industry 



16 U.S.C. 781-785 



Taking or catching. In waters of Gulf or straits of 

 Florida, commercial sponges of less than pre- 

 scribed size, and landing or possession of same. 

 782. Same: possession prima facie evidence. 



783 Punishment for violations of law; liability of vessels 



784 Jurisdiction of prosecutions 



785 Enforcement of law prohibiting taking of sponges of 



specified sizes; employment of Coast Guard ves- 

 sels and Customs Service employees. 



§781. Taking or catching, in waters of Gulf or Straits 

 of Florida, commercial sponges of less than pre; 

 scribed size, and landing or possession of same. 



It is unlawful for any citizen of the United States, 

 or person owing duty of obedience to the laws of the 

 United States, or any boat or vessel of the United 

 States, or person belonging to or on any such boat 

 or vessel, to take or catch, by any means or method, 

 in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico or the Straits 

 of Florida outside of State territorial limits, any 

 commercial sponges measuring when wet less than 

 five Inches in their maximum diameter, or for any 

 person or vessel to land, deliver, cure, offer for sale, 

 or have in possession at any port or place in the 

 United States, or on any boat or vessel of the United 

 States, any such commercial sponges. (Aug. 15. 1914. 

 ch. 253; § 1.38 Stat. 692.) 



§ 782. Same; possession prima facie evidence. 



The presence of sponges of a diameter of less than 

 five inches on any vessel or boat of the United States 

 engaged in sponging In the waters of the Gulf of 

 Mexico or the Straits of Florida outside of State 

 territorial limits, or the possession of any sponges 

 of less than the said diameter sold or delivered by 

 such vessels, shall be prima facie evidence of a vio- 

 lation of the provisions of this chapter. (Aug. 15, 

 1914, ch. 253, § 2, 38 Stat. 692.) 



§783. Punishment for violations of law; liability of 

 vessels. 



Every person, partnership, or association guilty of 

 a violation of the provisions of this chapter shall 

 be liable to a fine of not more than $500, and in addi- 

 tion such fine shall be a lien against the vessel or 

 boat on which the offense is committed, and said 

 vessel or boat shall be seized and proceeded against 

 by process of libel In any court having Jurisdiction 

 of the offense. (Aug. 15, 1914, ch. 253, § 3, 38 Stat. 

 692.) 



S 784. Jurisdiction of prosecutions. 



Any violation of the provisions of this chapter 

 shall be prosecuted in the district court of the United 

 States of the district wherein the offender is found 

 or into which he is first brought. (Aug. 15, 1914. 

 ch. 253, ! 4, 38 Stat. 692.) 



§ 785. Enforcement of law prohibiting taking of 

 sponges of specified sizes; employment of Coast 

 Guard vessels and Customs Service employees. 



The Secretary of the Interior shall enforce the pro- 

 visions of this chapter, and he Is authorized to em- 

 power such ofHcers and employees of the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior as, he may designate, or such 

 officers and employees of other departments as may 

 be detailed for the purpose, to make arrests and 

 seize vessels and sponges, and upon his request the 

 Secretary of the Treasury may employ the vessels 

 of the Coast Guard or the employees of the Customs 

 Service to that end. (Aug. 15, 1914. ch. 253. § 5, 38 

 Stat. 692; 1939 Reorg. Plan No. H, i 4(e) , eff. July 1, 

 1939. 4 P.R. 2731, 53 Stat. 1431; Aug. 4, 1949, ch. 393, 



§S 1. 20. 63 Stat. 495. 561.) 



Amindmcnts 



1949— Act Aug. 4, 1949, reestabllBhed the Co»»t Guard 

 ! and repealed act Jan. 28, 1916, ch. 20. I 1. 88 8t*t. 800. 



36. Sea Otters— Protection on High Seas 



16 U.S.C. 1171-1172 



(See Fur Seal Act of 1966 of this title) 



37. Sockeye Salmon or Pink Salmon Fishing Act of 1947 



Sec. 



776. Definitions. 



776a. Unlawful acts. 



776b. Omission of or fraudulent returns, records, and 



reports; penalties. 

 T76c. Penalties and forfeitures. 



(a) Fine and Imprisonment; prohibition on 

 activities. 



16 U.S.C. 776-776f 



(b) Forfeitures: first and subsequent viola- 



tions. 



(c) Same; procedure. 



(d) Minor violations; citation to appear. 



(e) Bond or stipulation. 



776d. Enforcement. 



